Apparatus for the production of cigarettes



May28, 1935.- w. F. M. EDWARDS E1' AL APPATUS'FOR THE PRODUCTION OFCIGARETTES Filed oct.A 31, 1934 3 Sheds-Sheet 1 ,May 281,. 1935.- w. F.M. EDWARDS ET AL 2,002,886

`APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF lCIGARETTES Filed Oct. 31, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 2 May 2 8, 1935- w. F. M. EDWARDS ET AL 2,002,886

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CIGARETTS Filed oct. 51, 19:54 5sheetssheet 3 Patented May 28, ,i935 i t t UNITEDSTATES eATENT OFFICE;

APPARATUS Foa 'me PRODUCTION or CIGARE'r'rEs a William FrederickMaitland Edwards, London,V and Rowland Frank May, Middlesex, England,assignors to Filter Tips Limited, London, England, aBritish companyApplication October 31, 1934, Serial No. 750,904 In Great Britain July14, 1933 This invention relates to the production of groups of rollers,which spaces also accommodate cigarettes provided with lter tips or stubporthe double length filter tips or stub portions. tions at themouthpiece end, and has for its When the chambers or the like for therecep-y primary object to provide improved means for Vtion of thecigarettes are rotatable in relation to 5 the production of suchcigarettes by uniting the drum or carrier, the lter tips or stub por- 5cigarettes, which may be of shorter length than tions and the adjacentparts of the cigarettes normal, with filter tips or stub portions by themay be located in bores in non-rotatable memapplication of encirclingbands secured by adbers slotted for the entry of the uniting bandshesive. thereinto, the wrapping of the uniting bands be- According tothe present invention, the iming eiected by the rotation of thecigarettes dur`- l0 proved apparatus comprises a drum or other ing theperiods of non-rotation of the drum or suitable intermittently movablecarrier having carrier. chambers, bores or the equivalent for the re-`The rotation of the wrapping means during the ception of the cigarettesand lter tips or stub periods when the `drum or carrier is stationary aportions to be united, and means operative While may be eiected by meanssuch as a segmental the drum or carrier is stationary to effect thedriving gear.

Wrapping of the uniting bands. The chambers When double lengthcigarettes have filter tips or the like for the reception of thecigarettes may or stub portions united therewith or double benon-rotatable in relation to the drum or carlength lter tips or stubportions are united to 2o rier, in which case the application of theuniting pairs of .cigarettes as described, the united eiga- 20 bands iseiected byvrelatively rotatable means. rettes and filter tips or stubportions may be de- Alternatively, ythe chambers or the like for thelivered from the drum or carrier into a receiver reception of thecigarettes may be rotatable in in which they are held for bi-section bymeans of relation to the drum or carrier so that the apa suitablecutter, such receiver convenientlyconplication of the uniting bands maybe effected by sisting of a drum or the like having receiving rotationof the cigarettes during the periods grooves or channels, andthe threeelementsto when the drum or carrier is stationary. be united bythefencircling band or bands may The drum or carrier may be adapted toire# be introduced successively into each chamber or ceive double lengthiilter tips or stub portions thelike inthe drum or carrier from one endatan intermediate position and cigarettes abutthereof and duringsuccessive periods of non- 30 ting opposite ends of said iilter tips orstub porrotation of the said drum `or carrier. Alternations, or may beadapted to receive double length tiVelY, the dOnble length filter tip 01Stub Portion cigarettes at an intermediate position and iilter Ol thedouble length Cigarette may be ISt intips or s tub portions abutting theopposite ends trOduCed inte the ehafnber- OI the like in the of suchcigarettes. In a` modicatlon, the drum drum or carrier and the two outerelements to 35 or carrier may be adapted to receive cigarettes be unitedillleeWith may be applied from ODDO- from the opposite ends so thatpairs of cigarettes site @ud y abut one another and lter tips or stubportions TheCigaeiteS may be held in the Chambers abutting the outerends of the pairs of cigarettes, 0r the like in the drum. or carrier byspring, or or may be adapted to receive cigarettes and lter Otherequivalent gripping means. i 40 tips or stub portions respectively fromopposite The apparatus may be adapted t0 IeeeiVe Cigetn ends of the drumor carrierl rettes from a continuous rod cigarette-making The wrappingof the uniting bands may be machine so that the seam of the uniting bandr effected wholly or in part by the action of rollers Will be inalignment With 01 be in definite Iela- 45 4l or groups ofl rollersadapted to be revolved about tien t0 the Seem 0f the Cigarette.

the axes of the 'aligned cigarettes and filter tips The invention ishereinafter described by Way or stub portions or by a slotted ferrule orequiva- 'of example with reference to the accompanying lent rotatingdevice, For instance, the rotatable diagrammatic drawings, in Which!- 0wrapping means may comprise groups of rollers Figure 1 is a sectionalplan View illustrating 50 carried between pairs of rotatable membershavone embodiment of apparatus according to the ing central bores andnon-rotatable chambers for invention; the cigarettes associated with thesaid central Figure 2 is a section on the line II-II; Figure 1; bores sothat the cigarettes are held with their Figure 3 is a part longitudinalsection illus- Yends projecting into the spaces enclosed by the tratinga modication; 55

Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-lV, Figure lFigure is a partlongitudinal section illustrating a further modification; and

Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI, Figure In carrying theinvention into effect according to one embodiment and with reference toFigures 1 and 2 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, a carriersuch asia drum I is provided, which drum isintermittently rotated stepby step by any suitable driving mechanism and is constructed so as toprovide a'series of longitudinally extending. bores Ia interrupted by aperipheral channel Ib at the intermediate portion of the drum I. Flangedferrules or like members 2 are rotatably mounted in thesaid bores Ia andare connected bypins 2c carrying rollers 2a. Theouter portions of thebores Ia are provided with fixed sleeves 3 for the reception ofcigarettes 4, 4a which may be gripped in the sleeves asby' means ofsprings Ic. The central bores in the members 2 are slightly larger thanthe diameter of the cigarettes 'so that when rotated, as by theengagement of a segmental gear 5 with gear teeth 2b formed on theperiphery of one of the members 2, there will be no twisting actiony onthe cigarettes. y

As shown more particularly in Figure 2, the

.cigarette 4 is fed in at the position A, the double length filter tipor stub portion B at the position B, and the cigarette 4a atthe positionC, the introductionbeing facilitated by the provision of flared inlettubes a, b, c respectively (Figure 1). The position of the assembledcigarettes and double length filter tip or stub portion may bedetermined by means of a stop plate Id.`

A, strip 1 of cork or other suitable material, which is out off andpasted by any suitable means (not shown), is fed as by means of rollers8fthrough a guide 9v so as to pass between two of the adjacent rollers2a, as shown in Figure 2, into contact with the double length filter tipor stub portion 6 and the adjacent end portions of the cigarettes 4, 4a.On rotation of the respective members 2 by the segmental gear 5, thestrip 'I will be wrapped, by the action of the rollers 2a, around Ytheassembled cigarettes and double length iilter tip or stub portion soasto unite the same together. After the wrapping opera- -tion the drum Iis moved through one step for the application of a further strip of corkor the like to the next assembly of cigarettes and double length filtertip or stub portion. The united cigarettes and lter tips or stubportions are ejected, for instance, at the position D (Figure 2) bymeans of an ejecting pllmger d (Figure 1) and may be `inserted into areceiver inv which they are heldior bi-section. For example, suchreceiver may be constituted by adrum III mounted co-axially and movingwith-the drum I, such drum I0 being provided with channels or groovesIlia in which the cigarettesare held, for instance, by wire or likemembers I0b. The bi-section is effected rby means of a rotary or othercutter II and the cigarettes are nally discharged on to a suitableconveyor, the wire or like members I0b terminating at a suitableposition for this pur,-

pose.

In a modication, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the cigarettes 4, 4aare disposed in sleeves I2 rotatable in the bores Ia of the .drum .I,the cigarettes being gripped therein as by the pro-n vision of springsI2b. The sleeves are provided at their outer ends with gears I2a and areretained at their inner ends by the provision of collars I2c.Intermediate the sleeves I2 a nonrotatable meniber I3 is providedhavinga bore I3a co-faxial with the bores of the sleeves I2 'and havinga slot I3b through which a strip 1 of cork y portion 6 is located in thebore I3a of the member I3 with the adjacent end portions of thecigarettes also extending into the bore I3a and abutting the illter tiplor stub portion 6. While the drum. I is stationary, a strip 1 of cork orthe like is'fed into position so as to contact with the assembledcigarettes and filter tip or stub portion and the sleeves I2 are rotatedas by the provision of segmental gears 5 so as' to cause the strip 1 tobe wrapped around the assembled cigarettesand filter tip or stubportion. The united cigarettes and filter tips or stubportions may beejected into a drum III, as'shown inFigure 1 for bi-section. If desired,the cigarettes may be Iedinto the sleeves I2 from opposite ends of thedrum I. According to a further modification, as' illustrated in Figures5 and 6, a single sleeve extends `through each pair of aligned bores Iaof the drum I and is rotatable therein as by the provision of acentrally disposed gear I4a co-operating with a segmental gear 5, thesleeve I4 preferably being slotted at an intermediate position toaccommodate a spring I4b or other gripper for engaging fthe doublelength cigarette, or pair of cigarettes 4, 4a, inserted into the sleeveI4. The cigarettes held in the sleeves I4 project 'beyond the outer endsthereof into non-rotatable ferrules I5 which also accommodate the ltrtips or stub portions Iia, 6b. At the wrapping 'position a roller I5 ismounted, such roher I6 being in'contact with or in close proximity tothe periphery'of the assembled cigarette and lter tip or stub portionand being driven, for instance, by means of a-pulley Isa. The ferrulesI5 are cut away toaccommo date the-rollers I6 and to permit thestep-by-step movement of the drum whereby successive Ier-J rules I5 arebrought into operative relation with the rollers I6: As shown in Figure6 a strip 1 of cork or the like is fed as by means of rollers l and aguide 9 so as to enter between the roller I6 -at each end of therdrumand the respective lter tip or stub portion 6a or 6b so thatlon rotationof the cigarettes by the engagement' of the gear 5 with the gear I4a,which occurs during the period of non-rotation of the drum I, thewrapping of the strips 1 is effected. When double length cigarettes are'employed, the product may be ejected into a receiver, such as the drumI0 shown in Figure 1, for bi-section. The apparatus shown in Figures 5and 6 may be utilized for. uniting single cigarettes with lter tips orstub portions, in which case the drum I is provided w'ith only oneseries of bores Ia and the cigarettes and .filter tips or stub' portionsare fed into the receiving chambers in thedrum `I from opposite endsthereof.

In all vcases the apparatus may be arranged in conjunction with one ormore continuous rod cigarette-making machines so that the cigarettes arefedintothedrumsothattheirseamsarein alignment with or in deiiniterelation to the seams of the uniting bands. Y

nIn a further-modiilcation,the encircling band tively narrow and mayserve solely for Joining thefor uniting the cigarette and iilter tip orstub portion may be applied by rotation of the cigarette while theintermittently movable drum or carrier is at rest combined with theaction of a rotatable ferrule or roller or rollers such as beforedescribed.

It will be understood: that the invention is not limited to theparticular details hereinbefore described. For example, in theconstruction in which the cigarettes are rotated for the application ofthe uniting band, they may be held in any suitable construction ofrotatable carrier and,

instead of an intermittently rotatable drum, an

intermittently movable endless chain or other similar conveyor may beutilized. Furthermore, although the 'uniting band preferably consists ofcork and is adapted to provide an external mouthpiece, the invention isapplicable for the production of cigarettes with filter tips or stubportions at the mouthpiece ends thereof wherein the filter tips or stubportions are previously wrapped, in which, case the uniting band may becomparacigarettes and theillter tips or stub portions together.

1. An apparatus for the'production of cigarettes provided with a stubportion at the mouthpiece end, comprising iin-intermittently movablecarrier-,means on the carrier for supporting a cigarette withan alignedstub porti means for wrapping a uniting band aboutthe aligned cigaretteand stub portion, means for supplyingtheu'niting bandtothewrappingmeans, and means operablebetween the inter-4 mittent movements oi'l thecarrier -for actuating the wrapping means.

2. An apparatus forthe production of cigarestes provided with e stubportion et themouth- Apiece end, comprising an intermittently movablecarrier, means on the carrier for supporting a. cigarette with analigned stub portion'in a stationary position, means 'adapted to rotateabout the aligned cigarette and stub portion for wrapping a uniting bandthereabout, means Vfor supplying the uniting band to the wrapping means,and means operable between the inter-v mittent movements of the carrierfor actuating the wrapping means.

. 3. An apparatus for the production of cigarettes provided with astubportion at the mouthpiece end, comprising an intermittently movablecarrier, means on the carrierfor supporting al cigarette with an alignedstub portion, means for Supplying a uniting band to the cigarette andstub portion, and means operable between the intermittent Vmovements ofthe carrier for rotating the supporting means to effect wrapping of theuniting band about the aligned cigarette and stub portion, a stationarydevicef forl feeding a uniting bend strip to said rouen .when intoregister therewith by said carapparatus rier, and mounted onalstationary portion of the apparatus for rotating the planetary rollersabout the axis ci' the cigarette between movements of the carrier andwhile the rollers are in register withthe feeding device.

5. An apparatus for the' production of cigarettes provided with a stubportion `at the mouthpiece end, comprising an intermittently movablecarrier, a supporting member on said carrier having a bore extendingtherethrough for supporting a stub portion and a cigarette to be unitedin alignment, said supporting member having aslot providing access tosaid bore, a device mounted on a. stationary portion of the apparatusfor feeding a strip of uniting baud material into the slot of saidsupporting member when the carrier is in e position placing said slot mregister with said feed device, means onsaid carrier for rotatingy saidcigarette, and means mounted on the nstationary portion of the apparatusoperative between movements of said' carrier .for actuating thecigarette rotating means when the slot of the member supporting thecigarette is in a position to receive the banding/strip. Y

6. An Y ,apparatus for the production of cigarettes provided with a stubportion at the mouth- -piecec end, comprising anintermittently movablecarrier, a supporting m'ember on said carrierhaving a bore extendingvtherethrough for supporting'a stub portion and'a cigarette to be unitedin alignment,Vv said supporting member having a slot providing access tosaid bore, a

device mounted on 'a stationary portion ofv the for feeding a strip ofuniting band material into the slot of said supporting member when, thecarrier is in a position placing said slot in' register with saidfeeddevice, means on said carrier for rotating said cigarettes, and asegmentlgear molmted on the stationary porion of the apparatus operativebetween movements of said carrier for actuating the lcigarettev'rotating means when the slot of the member lsupportingthe'cigaretteisinaposltiontore-d ceive the banding strip. 1

'1. An apparatus for the Aintjlductlon of cigarettes provided with astubportion at the mouthpiece end, comprising an intermittently movablecarrier, me'ans on the carrier for supporting a cigarette, a lpairoi!spaced annular members rotatably mounted in alignment with saidsupporting means, a plurality of rollers positioned between said annularmembers with their axes paralleltotheaxisofsaidmembers'andspacedthereabout to .deilne a chamber in t with said supporting means, saidchamber being adapted to surround oneend of the cigarette and l supporta stub portion in alignment therewith.v

'a'uniting bandstrip feeding device mounted on a stationary portion ofthe apparatus for feed- -ing astripofbandingmaterialtothestub portionand cigarette surrounded by said rollers 'when brought ,into registeringposition by the carrier, and means on the stationary portion of theapparatus for rotating vsaid annular members and rollers betweenintermittent l rovements of said carrier toiwrap theband about thecisarette andstub portion. i

ROWLAND HAY.

